The lyrics from the theme song of the futuristic “Batman Beyond” capture the pathos: greed, apathy, corruption, power.

A hefty part of the blame for this mood goes out to violent Muslim extremists, which include a cast from ISIS, the Taliban, and Boko Haram.

My friends know I am a Muslim. I keep a trimmed beard. I take breaks in the day to meditate. The giveaway though is that I invite them to my mosque at every opportunity. In casual conversation, they will express to me how they are disgusted by the bigoted rhetoric from recent political candidates and particularly by their calls to ban or heavily monitor all Muslims. Yet innocently, my friends will ask the whereabouts of a unified voice from the Muslim community that could put both radicals and Islamophobes in their place.

Being a comic buff, I tell my friends that times like this demand a superhero — a Muslim superhero.

And I’m happy to report to them that I believe that such a mighty leader is in our midst.

But here are some difference between him and the fictional characters of comic fancy. In my view, these differences also make my superhero much more important.

Firstly, my superhero is far from being a vigilante. He emphasizes the true message of the Prophet Mohammad, which is that love for your country of residence and following its rules are part of your faith. Back in 2011, when the world was enthusiastic over the rise of the Arab Spring, the Khalifa repeatedly warned Arab citizens that conducting a violent revolution to overthrow their governments would make the region worse off. Instead he asked the public to turn toward God for help against oppression and to work through the rule of law. The ensuing destruction of several Mideast nations was a painful reminder of not taking heed. My Khalifa has also strongly urged authorities to prevent clerics, whether in the East or the West, from inciting violence in the name of religion. He explained that the Prophet of Islam strictly prohibited his followers from exacting punishment against anyone on the grounds of apostasy or blasphemy. Yes, leaders should discourage faith bashing, and, conversely, they should promote dialogue that helps appreciate one another’s positive qualities. A peaceful society is founded on the principles of order, tolerance, and mutual respect.

Secondly, my superhero refuses to lead a dual life or to mask his identity. He openly tells that he derives all of his ideals from the original teachings of Islam and the Prophet. He has extensively written letters to heads of state and fearlessly travelled the world — to Japan, Australia, the European Parliament, the British House of Commons, and yes, also Capitol Hill. His consistent message is that a sustainable world peace requires absolute justice. All of these proceedings are in the public domain (www.khalifaofislam.com).

In his most recent address at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s 2016 National Peace Symposium in the UK two weeks ago, the Khalifa said that ISIS could be effectively dismantled in a short span of time if the major world powers made a deliberate effort to cut its monetary supply line and stop selling it weapons. However, oil and arms have taken priority over curbing terror. If you don’t believe it, read Margaret Coker’s recent special investigative report in the Wall Street Journal or Professor Leif Wenar’s new book “Blood Oil.” Such duplicities in foreign affairs have placed the world in a perilous state.

The Khalifa also boldly states that the media has a major responsibility to represent all sides fairly. Constant flashes on the news of a handful of Muslim extremists should be complemented by the faces of hundreds of thousands of peaceful Muslims activists who unequivocally denounce the concept of a violent jihad, with the Khalifa at its forefront. The unilateral portrayals unfairly demonize anyone who looks or dresses like a Muslim. How many innocent Muslim women wearing their traditional headscarf have become the target of discrimination after the repetitive images of the one Muslim woman linked to the San Bernardino attack in December?

On the flip side, little known news from just last week is that Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was convicted by the a UN tribunal for the systematic killing, not of a few dozen, but rather thousands of Bosnian Muslim civilians in the 1990s. He was a mastermind of the worst genocide in Europe since World War II.

Unconscionable murder and rape of gargantuan proportions took place under Karadzic’s watch, and the campaign was carried out, according to him, to “defend Christian values and culture.” Where are the frequent clips of Karadzic in the media? The Khalifa has advised us as a general rule, however, to refrain from blaming a particular religion, in this case Christianity, even if such heinous, large-scale crimes against humanity are perpetrated in its very name. Neither should we ban or profile all Christians. When it comes to Islam, the media needs to do more to showcase its overwhelmingly positive message.

When the global scene appears like gloomy Gotham, there is definitely a need for a superhero. There is especially a need for a Muslim superhero, and it is fulfilled by the Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. This superhero promotes law and order and is unafraid to speak out against double standards that impede absolute justice. I believe this superhero will not only free the world from the clutches of radicals and hate-mongers, but will help bring all of us closer to a lasting peace.